Since ‘houseboats’ floating on the waters of river Jehlum are not commercial except in rarest cases and that also nominally and those in fact being purely private residential ‘dwellings’, a holistic policy is needed to rehabilitate them relocating alternate places to build their dwellings. That is the immediate and ultimate solution to the problem. However, most of the old boats being worn out and in dilapidated conditions need repairs, the particular timber used and the specialised workmanship for conducting their repairs too being costly , the owners have requested the Government to bail them out and help them in repairing and renovating these boats.
Since the number of such ‘houseboats’ on the waters of Veth or Jehlumis not large but around 86, the request for repairs and financial help may be considered sympathetically in their favour but rehabilitating them and decongesting the river banks may be considered as a long term and lasting solution to the problem.
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